Hieam s



(No Model.)

H. S. MAXIM.

APPARATUS POR EXTINGUTSHTNG FIRES.

No. 251,614. Patented Deo. 27,1881.

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ATTORNEYS.

NITED STATES PATENT HIRAM S. MAXIM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR EXTINGFUISHING FIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No. 251,614, dated December 27, 1881.

Application filed August 23, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HIRAM S. MAXIM, ofthe city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new Improvement in Apparatus for Extinguishing Fires, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Figure lis a longitudinal sectional elevation of my improved fire-boat. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, the section being through the lower discharge-nozzle, G. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the top of the apparatus. Fig. 4t is a sectional elevation of the top of the apparatus at right angles with Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of' the outer end of the discharge-pipe,showingthechambered dischargenozzle. Fig. 6is an elevation of the chambered discharge-nozzle, looking at its outer face. Fig. 7 is alongitudinal section of gun. Fig. 8 isa longitudinal section through the head of stand'- pipe D and foot of standpipe E.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspending parts.

The object of my invention is to provide a lire-extinguishing boat or floating fire-engine which shall be capable of promptly extinguishing fires on vessels afloat orin buildings on or adjacent to the water-front.

The invention consists in a novel construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described.

My vessel or tire-boat A, of suitable size, and

built preferably ot' iron or other fire-proof material, carries within its hold powerful steamgeneratorsB and pumping machinery C, which latter is connected by the pipe c to the reser voir C', with which the stand-pipe, composed of sections D E, has proper connection. I prefer to makeV my lire-boat self-propelling and to use side paddlcwheels, each connected with a powerful separate engine, as at F, to facilitate the ease and rapidity of movement of the vessel, said engines to be supplied with steam from the boilers B. The outer lower standpipe, D, is properly supported vertically, or nearly so, in the deck of the vessel and in the step el, its lower portion within the reservoir C', and for a considerable length, being perforatedto admit a free flow of water from the reservoir into pipe D.

The gear-wheel D is rigidly attached to the pipe D, and is driven by the pinion d to cause (No model.)

the entire water-discharging apparatus to revolve in a horizontal plane. Such revolution may be caused by any connected system of' gearing operated by any connected motor; but I prefer to use an independent steam-engine, the valves of which may be controlled direct from the hold or deck of the vessel, or from the upper cab, R through the medium of any suitable connections.

The discharge-nozzle G is supported on the stand-pipeD by the hollow trunnion G', through which the water from D is forced, and in an outer solid trunniou supported in suitable bearings by the bracket G2, which is secured to the stand-pipe D. Said nozzle G can thus be inclined to the horizon to direct the water as desired; and as it is intended to dischargealarge stream of water, it is therefore strongly made and provided with a screw-plug valve, g, to be opened and closed by the hand-wheelg to admit and shut oft' the water supply from the stand-pipe D, by the horizontal revolution of which, or the turning ofthe vessel A, said nozzle G can be advantageously used to direct a great body of water into the hold of vessels or upon wharves or buildings. More than one of these nozzles G maybe connected with the stand-pipe D, if desired.

The inner section of the stand-pipe E is adapted to slide within` the outer stand-pipe, D, to secure greater elevation of the upper dischargenozzles, and is forced upward by the impact of the entering Water upon the interior of its closed head and upon the area of its lower annular rim, e2. Said pipe E also carries the lookout or cab R at its upper end, the rope ladder r affording access thereto, and the rope.

and tackle r retaining the pipe E at any desired height.

The bracket E projecting from the pipe E supports the solid outer trunnion, H, of the upper discharge-pipe, J. Its inner hollow trunnion, H', is supported in the stand-pipe E,and is open to water-communication with E. The short arm J ofthe discharge-pipeis preferably solid, and may also be weighted, as at J2, to

balance the overhan ging weight of the longer or discharge pipe J, which latter is hollow. When the telescoping-pipe E is not used the pipe J and its appurtenances and cab R may be attached upon the upper end of pipe D.

IOO

Pipe J carries eccentrically at its outer end the casing K, between the inner face and the outer face shoulders, 7c, of which the chamberednozzle mouth-piece M is held. Said mouthpiece M is provided with an internal gear, m, and a series of' nozzles, 1 2 3 4, of varying diameters, and a sprinkler, 5. Any one of these nozzles, or the sprinkler, may be brought in direct line with the bore of the discharge-pipe J, as is the nozzle No. l in the drawings, by revolving the mouth-piece M by means of the pinion M', which engages with the internal gear, m, and connects by means of the rod N, worm-wheel N', worm N2, supported in bearings a, and the universal joint N3, and square rod N, with the hand-wheel N5, which is held within the cab it, so as to permit said wheel N5 to freely revolve, and also allow the square rod N4 to pass through it on the adjustment of the discharge-pipe J to different angles with the horizon. These mechanical agents N2 N4 N5 may connectI the lower end of the worm N2, to also permit the mouth-piece M to be revolved from any convenient point below the discharge-pipe.

Any one of the nozzlesl 2 3 4, or the sprinkler 5, can be adjusted from the cab lt, or other point, without shutting off the Water-supply, to direct varying volumes of water upon any part of a burning building, as required.

The worm 0 is supported in the bearings e and provided with the hand-wheel o' within the cab R, and meshes with the worm-wheel H2, which is fixed to the trunnion H. A rod carrying a lever or hand-wheel may connect the lower end ofthe worm o, to also permit the horizontal adjustment of the discharge-pipe J from any convenient point below it. ,By turning said wheel 0 the angle of inclination with the horizon of the discharge-pipe J can be altered at pleasure to direct the stream of water from any nozzle in the mouth-piece M upon any portion of a high building, and any required horizontal change of direction of the said water-stream can be quickly secured by either horizontally turning the lower stand-pipe, D, or by turning the entire vessel A. My lire-boat thus provides means for discharging water in any required volume within or upon any portion of a burning ship or high or low building.

As a means for making a hole in a burning vessel to render the Water-discharge more effective, or for making fast to another vessel, Iv provide one or more heavy picks, L, which are preferably hinged at the base ol" the standard L', which is secured to the vessel and adaptof wood, through the side of a ship or wall of a building. An enlarged section of the gun is shown in Fig. 7.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. ln a lire-extinguishing apparatus, the combination, with the stand-pipe D, provided with Y the bracket G2, and adapted to be revolved, of the discharge-nozzle Gr, provided with a hollow trunnion at one side and a solid trunnion at the other, and with a valve, g, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. Inafire-extinguishing'apparatus,thecombination, with the sliding section E, of the cab R, the discharge-pipe J, and means for operating the said discharge-pipe, substantially as shown and described, whereby the dischargepipe is adapted to lbe operated from the cab, as set forth.

3. The combination, with the steam pumping machinery C, adapted to receive its water through the bottom ofthe vessel, ofthe reservoir C' and the stand-pipe D, having its lower end perforated and stepped in said reservoir, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

et. Inafire-extinguishingapparatus,thecombination, with the sliding section E, the pivoted discharge-pipe J, and the chambered mouth-piece M, provided with internal gear, m', of the pinion M', the rod N, worm-wheel N', worm N2, swivel-joint N3, rod N4, and handwheel N5, substantially as and for the purpose Set forth.

5. Inatire-extinguishingapparatus,thecombination, with the sliding section E, of the pivoted discharge-pipe J, having the weighted end J', substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

6. In combination with the stand-pipe D E and discharge-pipe J, the worm-wheel H2 and worm o, provided with suitable lever or hand- Wheel for operating them to adjust and hold the said discharge-pipe J at varying angles of inclination to the horizon, substantially as herein described.

HIRAM S. MAXIM.

Witnesses C. Sand-WICK, J. H. SCARBOROUGH. 

